Stock-handling mechanism



F. I. LITTELL. sTocK HANDLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.8.1921.

lAZlyB., Patented June 27, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IgM/4% F. J. LlTTELL.

STOCK HANDLING MECH/mism.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3.1921.

1,421,354, 'Patented June 27, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

25 al 55 55 f6 F. J. LITTELL.

STOCK HANDLING MECHANISNI.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. 1921.

Ll. Patented June 27, 1922..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Immers.

STOCK-HANDLING MECHANISM.

` Application led April 8,

To all ywhom t may concern;

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. LITTELL, a citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stock-Handlmg Mechanism, of which the following 1s a specification. Y

This invention relates to a new and 1mproved stock feeding mechanism, and more particularly to a mechanism adapt-ed to be associated with a strip stock working apparatus in a manner to substantially convert the apparatus to an automatic machine.

In connectionwith strip stock working apparatus such as punch presses or the like `which operate to form blanks orV small punched shapes from strip stock, or to draw shells with combination dies from. such stock, a constant feed is necessary to assure rapid and economical production. -In order to supply stock to such a feed, it is commonly madeup either in the form of short strips or in the form of coiled rolls and fed from the rolls across the machine. In order to secure the maximum eiiiciency in the operation where coiled stock is used, itis necessary that the stock be straightened to take out the curves caused by the coiling and to feed the stock constantly and-uniformly to the machine. In all cases means should be provided for wiping from lthe stock any foreign matter which might tend to injure the straightening rolls, feeding rolls, dies or other portions of the apparatus, and in many cases it is desirable that the stock be oiled. Generallyafter the stock is operated upon by the dies, a mutilated strip or skeleton of scrap remains. In working with coil stock this scrap strip is very difficult to handle, as it tends to coil about the machine and requires continual cutting by hand.\

A further diiculty is foundin such yInacliines in securing an even and uniform feed and withdrawal of the stock strip, it being highly desirable to have the strip operated on by feeding rolls both before and after the working in the machine.

In order to obtain an intermittent drivel of the feed rolls, timed accurately in` rela tion to the strokes of the press,A a recipro cating part of the press should be employed;

but I have found it desirable to greatly am-A Speceation of Letters Patent. Patentd June 27, 9220 1921. Serial No. @59140.

plify the angle through which the feed rolls move over that developed by the reciprocatory .member that actuates them.

It 1s an object of the present invention to provide an assembly mechanism adapted to be associated with strip Working mechanism vto clean, oil and straighten the stock, to feed the stock properly to the machine andd to take care of the ribbon scrap which leaves the machine. i y. i

It is a further object to provide vmechanism of this character which is adapted for intermittentactuation by the apparatus with which it is to be associated, which is LITTELL MACHINE automatic in its action, and which will amrelatively simple in i composed of comparatively 4few relatively low costaud vapplied to existing machines without material alteration therein.

Other and further objects willv appear as l the description proceeds.

Broadly, my mechanism comprises paired feeding rolls located upon either side of the Working point of the press and operatedlby the crankshaft of the press to give the stock an intermittent movement, accurately timed with the Working strokes of the press, the rotary motion of the crank shaft being converted into one-way rotary motion in the feed rolls, but amplified, to yincrease the length of feed. It -includes. straightening rolls adapted to receive the stock before'its entry into the first feed rolls, and means adapted towipeand to oil the stock before it reaches the straightening rolls. It also includes a scrap cutter adapted to cut the scrap strip into relatively small and easily handled sections and the scrap cutter exists as a lseparate entity inform for attachment' to an existing press, and is adjustable rela-. tively to the press plunger, in the direction of issue of the scrap, sothat its plane of severance can be made to coincide with the'v narrowest part of the scrap and the energy consumed inkoperating it accordingly mini# mizedf The limit `of depression ofthe cut-A ting plunger may `be determined at will, to accord with changes .in feed level. of .the stock strip which varies withditit'erent dies; andalso to compensate if desirable, for changes in leverage through which its working stroke is transmitted, incident to changing the distange of the cutter from the ress plunger that imparts the working stro e.

I have illustrated a .preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a face View of my mechanism shown assembled with a punch press of sim- P1@ type;

Figure 2 is a view of the mechanism as lseen 1n Figure 1, but is shown in plan view;

' cutter; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation showing a pair of feed rolls;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Figure 3; v i v -Figure 5 is an elevation of the straightening mechanism;

v Figure 6 is a sectionpon line 6-6 of Figf ure 5 t Figure 7y is an elevationshowing the scrap Figure 8 is van elevation showing the cleaning and oiling mechanlsm.

In Figure 1 of the drawings I have shown a simple punch press 10 in order to illustrate the relation of my stock handling mechanism thereto. This press includes the rotating shaft 11, the vertically reciprocated plunger 12 and fiywheel 13. The feed actuating rod 14 of my mechanism has its upper end pivotedly connected to a crankpin 15on a disk 16 rotated by the press shaft 11. The rod 14 has its `lower end connected by knuckle 17 t the operating arm 18 of the clutch drive member 19. This clutch drive member drives the in ner driven member 2O upon movement in one direction, but does not turn it in the reverse direction.Y The twoA pairs of feeding rolls are identical in construction and are connected'by the rod 21 which is pivotedly associated at either end with the downwardly extendingy lugs 22 and 22', the latter forming integral parts of the clutch drive members 19 and 19".

v lIn eachro'll pair, the lower roll 23 (see Fig. 4),- is'fast upon lits `shaft 24, which is journaled in bearings 25, 26, and said-shaft has keyed thereon a gear wheel 27v through which it is driven. Each upper roll 28 is fast upon its shaft 29, which is journaled in bearings 30. 31, and said shaft has keyed thereon a small gear wheel 32 through which it is driven, anda gearwheel 33 corresponding in size with and imparting driveto the gear wheel 27 on shaft 24, so that both rolls` are positively driven, andl driven at identical surface speed. l

To transmitamplilied rotary motionf to therolls 23, 28 from the inner driven member20 of the clutch, said member is united with the large gear 34 which is loose on shaft 24, and meshes withsmaller gear 32 on wshaft 29, which latter thus receives a .greater angle of rotation than the clutch hand wheel 35 fast on the outer end of each shaft 24 serves to impart initial rotation to the rolls in starting the feed and properly gaging the strip in relation to the stroke of the machine. Wheel 35 also contines the outer driving member of the'clutch on the shaft. Bearings 30, 31 are slidable in the roll frame 36 and are urged downwardly by the pins 37, the upper ends of which are k1n contact with the washer 37 which is engaged by the springs 38. The springs 38 are retained in place by the studs 39, washtected bysuitable gear guards 43 and 43'.

As best shown in 'Figure 3, alift lever 44 is pivoted to the rollframe 36 at 45. This lever is provided with inner arms 46 adapted to engage the under surface of the slidable bearing members 30 and 31. The outer end of the arm 44 is provided with a. contact 47 which is adapted to be engaged by operating studs 48, as shown in Figure 1. The horizontal shaft 49 is carried by the feed roll frame 36 above the member 44. This shaft 49 is provided with a handle 50 adapted for manual operation to 'rotate the shaft.

The shaft is further provided with the eccena cam surface 52 upon the member 44 to depress that .member upon rotating the handle 50. This feed'rollV assembly is se` Vcured to the bed plate 53 by means of'bolts 54. The screws 48 are carried by bracket 55 which is adapted to be secured to the reciprocating plunger of the press by means of screws 56 and 56. The bracket 55 is provided with a stud'57 which coacts with 67 is pivotedly associated with'the operating lever 59 at 68. This member 67 yis guided in its movement by the vertical guide rods 69.

The stationary cutting knife 70 is secured to nazista adapted to receive and guide the scrap strip.

The cleaning andV oiling mechanism is l attached to the right end ofthe bed plate 53 and comprises the stock guide members 71 which are adapted for lateral adjustment for differing widths o f stock. The upwardly extending ears 72 are attached to the base plate adjacent the guide members- 71 and these ears are each provided With stop pins 73 and with pivot pins 74.. The oil pad carrying arms 75 are connected by pins 76between which oil carrying means 77 are placed. These arms are pivoted upon the. pins 74 and provided with lugs 78 adapted to engage the stop pins 73. Extending beyond the arms 75 are the arms 79 connected to each other by ins 80 and carrying the cleaning pad 81. nstead of the pads shown in Figure 1', rolls 77 and 811nay be used as shown in Figure 8. In Figure 8 the ribbon of stock is designated l82. Below the pad 77 is located the fixed oil pad 83 carried in a recess 84. Below the pad 81 is a similarV ad 85 carried inthe recess 86. As shown 1n Figure 1, agsource of oil 87 is held above the pads 77 and 81 by the supporting arm 8 8.

The straightening rolls best shown inFigures 5 Vand 6 comprise five staggered rolls l89, three bein carried on a lower level ixedly in the igrame 90 and two being carried at a higher level upon the adjustable journal castings 91 which areslidable vertically in guideways 92vin, the casting 90. These guideways 92 are closed by cap plates 93 held in place by bolts 494. The adjusting screw 95 is provided at its upper end with the operating wheel 96. It makes. a screw threaded connection through the late 93 an'd is provided at its lower end wit a head 97 rotatably engaging the journal mem-y 'As shown in detail in Figure 6, each roller 89 comprises a' hollow member 'carried b a series of roller bearings 98, these series heing spaced by the sleeve 99. The rollers are engagedA upon their' outer ends n by the washers 100. vThe shafts 101 are reduced at 102 adjacentthe spacingsleeve 99 and are provided with the axial oil duct 103 pro-L vided with` an portion. A

In the operation of my apparatus, the .coiled stock which is carried upon any suitable reel (not shown) has itsend introduced through Vthe adjustable guides 71 and beopening 104 at its reduced -tween the straightening rolls 89. 'During this introduction the arms carrying the oil--v ing and cleaning pads are lifted and are-re tained in lifted position by the engagement of the lugs 78 with the stop pins 73. The

.desired operation.

-movement imparted to the rod 14 by two u per adjustable straightening'lrolls 89 are a justed according tothe thickness of y the stock and the stock is fed through these rolls luntil it is engaged bythe pair of feeding rolls 23, 28. The hand Wheel 35 is rotated to rotate these rolls to draw the stock inwardly. This rotation of the handle 35 ymoved to the left, as seen in Figure 1, thus and lifting the roller f depressing the lever 44 28 to permit the end of the stock to be passed freely between 'therolls The stock is then drawn across the machine either manuallyor by turning the handwheel 35 until 4it reaches the dies. operated and when the end of the ribbon of scrap reaches the rolls 23 and 28 it is passed .through -them in a similar The machine isil then manner. The tension upon the feed rolls'may be varied by adjustment of the' spring 38 by loosening or tightening the nuts 41 and 42. After the stock is fed through both pairs of rolls the press 10 may be operated in the usual manner. As the plunger 12 descends the contact screws 4 8I engage the members 44 and 44 to release the'gripping action by the rolls upon the stock ifdesired.

It is to be understood, of course,l that dies 'suitable for the work being done are placed in the bed of the machine below the stock and carried by tively. These dies cooperate to perform the Dies have been indicated somewhat diagrammatically at 114 and 115 in Figure 1. As the plunger moves upwardly, the studs 48 release the levers 44 and 44, the stock is again gripped by the feed rollers, and these rollers are rotated by means of the the stud 15 upon the rotation of the disk 16 carried by the press.

The clutch by which the feed rolls are driven is of the ratchet, type Aor of a typeloperating similarly toa ratchet in so. far -as it results in movement of the outer members in one direction and in free. movement of the outer member relative to the inner member when the outer member is moved in the opposite direction. In movement of the member 19 in the counter-clockwise direction u on downwardmovement of the plunger 12, respec- 11 the feeding means of this clutch moving during part of the rotation and remaining stationary the remainder of the rotation of the shaft 11.

As has been-stated, the two sets of feeding rolls are connected by the rod 21 and their movement is identical.

Difficulty has heretofore been found in securing an adequate linearl movement .by

such a drive without the use of excessively' any deslred gear. reduction 4 so that, forl example, a movement of the inner clutch member through 90 degrees would serve to rotate the gear wheel 32 and consequentlythe shaft 29 through 180 degrees. As has been noted, the gear 33 carried by the other end of the shaft 29 is identical in size with the gear 27 with which it meshes and whichis carried by the shaft 24:. Thus the two rolls are rotated at the same speed. This particular form of gear reduc.

tion and drive affords a very compact and simple structure and yet one whlch affords the desired gear reduction, and consequently permits considerable linear movement of the stock with a relativel small movement of the clutch, and .yet'wit out the necessity for feed rolls of excessively large diameter.

The stock, after passing through the dies, consists of a mutilated strip, ordinarily called scrap, from which the elements to be used have been punched. This scrap strip, accordingly, has points of greater and of less cross section. It is desirable for economy in power required to operate the scra cutter and also to avoid wear upon the cuttlng blades, to cut the scrap at the points of minimum cross section. In order that this may be done, the-entire scrap cutting assembly may be moved longitudinally upon the base plate by loosening and again tightening the holding bolts 64.- This movement is permitted by the slot 58 upon the operating arm without variation in the operation of the device. y

It will be noted that by adjustment of the link 61 the movement of the knife may be varied to accommodate'the operation of the cutter to the press when using dies of dierent heights, also, if desired to compensate for changes in working stroke transmitted through lever -59 incident to changes in distance between the cutter .and plunger, in finding the thinner part of the scrap.

The particular construction of the strai htening rolls which I have shown in detall in y.at different a stock of ordinary lworking thickness, grip- I' ping of the steel feed rolls is quite sufficient to draw the stock through and properly straighten it. i

The addition of my feeding and handling mechanism to` punching machines of ordinary types transforms those machines into automatic machines and affords a great increase in rapidity` of working, and further affords economy in that two or even three presses may be operated by one workman.

While I have shownV my construction in considerable detail, I contemplate variation, within the scope of the appended claims, in the several elements to accord with diferent working devices and' different classes ofv stock.

I claim: j 1. In combination with strip stock working apparatus, intermittent stock feedingV means controlled by the apparatus, means adapted to straighten the stock, the feeding means serving to pass the stock through the straightening means, means adapted to re# leasethe grip of the feeding means upon the stock between feeding movements, and

means. adapted to cut the stock scrap afterv the work of the apparatus upon the`s`tock.

2. In combination with a punch for strip stock, having a bed, a scrapcutter having cutting mechanism adapted to receive scrap issuing from thel punch, mounted on said base and having'adjustment to change the position of its cutting mechanism in the'direction of such issue, and actuating means for said cutting mechanism connected with and actuated by said punch, at different .adjustments of the cutting mechanism.

3. A scrap cutting attachment for strip stock punching machines, comprising a cutter base adapted to be attached to a punching machine in position to receive scrap isuing from the punch, and'withv adjustment to change its distance from the punch, cutting mechanism carried byV andapplied to the machine through `the medium of said-v l base, and means for actuating said cutting mechanism and adapted for connection-with an operating (part of the punching machine,

justments of said base.

4. A scrap cutting attachment for strip stock punching machines, comprising a cutter base adapted to be attached to a punching machine in position to receive scrap issuing from the punch thereof, with adjustment to change its distance from the/punch in the direction of such issue, cutting mechanism car-` ried by said base, and a lever fulcrumed on and partaking of the adjustmentsof said base, actuating said cutting mechanism, and adapted to extend to and engage with a reciprocating part of the punch, from different adjustments of said base.

5. In a scrap cutter for strip stock punching machines, a base constructed for mounting upon said machine on the side of the punch from which punched scrap lssues, constructed with cutting mechanlsm, and having an adjustment to change the distance of its cutting mechanism from the plunger, in the direction of such issue, a lever ful- ,crumed upon and adjustable with said base,

transmitting movement to said cutting m'echanism, and extending to and having actuating connection with said plunger, that is also adjustable in saidvdirection, and means for adjusting the cuttin stroke received by the cutting mechanism from said lever.

6. In a scrap cutter for strip stock punching machines,'a base constructed for mounting upon said. machinel on the side of the punch from which punched scrap issues, constructed with cutting mechanism, and having an adjustment to change the distance of its cutting mechanism from the plunger, 1n the direction of such issue, a lever fulcrumed upon and adjustable with said base, transmitting movement to said cutting mechanism, and extendin -to and having actuating connection with sal plunger, that is also adjustable in said direction, and means for adjusting the cutting stroke'recelved by the cutting mechanism from sald lever comprising an adjustable post upon which said lever is fulcrumed. A

7 In combination with strip stock working apparatus, scrap cutting mechanism adjustable longitudinally of the stock strlp, said mechanism being provided with a reciprocating knife, and means being provided for adj usting the cutting stroke of said knife.

8. In combination with strlp stock working apparatus, scrap cutting mechanism ad-- justable longitudinally of the stock str ip, said mechanism being provided with a reciprocating knife, and means being provided for adjusting the cutting'stroke of said kn1fe mdependently of'the operatingunovement of the apparatus.

9. In combination with stri stock working apparatus, feeding rolls'a apted to frictionally engage the stock therebetween, said. rolls being driven by the operation of the apparatus, a lever extending into coaction with said apparatus, adapted to relieve the engaging, pressure of said rolls during a period while the stock remains stationary, and manual means acting upon said lever'for relieving the engaging pressure.

10. In combination with strip stock work- Ving apparatus, mechanism adapted to oil the stock asy it movesinto the apparatus, said ing mechanism, a

mechanism comprising lubricating means engaging the lower surface of the stock and lubricatlng means engaging the upper surface of the stock, a hinged carrier carrying the upper lubricating means, said carrier being provided with means to selectively m'aintain said lubricating means out of engagement with the stock.

l1. In combination with stri stock working apparatus, mechanism adapted to oil the stock as it moves into the apparatus, said mechanism comprising a pad engaging the lower surface of the stock and a pad engaging the upper surface Iof the stock, and a second pair of p-ads adapted to first engage the stock t`o brush foreign matter therefrom, the lower pads of both pairs being fixed and a hinged carrier supporting the upper pads of both pairs, l provided with meansQto selectively maintain the pads out of engagement with the stock.

12. In combination with strip stock feeda rotatable shaft for one of said rolls, a driven vmember and a driving gear rigidly connected to each other and rotatably carried by said shaft, a clutch associated .with the drivenA member and adapted to drive said member when the clutch is moved in one direction and to move freelyf'over said member in the opposite direction, the clutch and member being normally disconnected, a second shaft for the other roll, said second shaft having fixedly associated therewith a driven gear in mesh with the irstmentioned driving'gear, a driving gear fixedly associated with the second shaft, and a driven ear carried xedly upon the first shaft an in mesh with the driving gear upon the second shaft.

13.,.'In combina-tion with strip stock feeding mechanism, a pair of stock feeding rolls, a rotatable 'shaft for one of said rolls, a hand wheel carried by said shaft whereby it may be manually rotated, a driven member and a driving gear rigidly connected to each other and rotatabl carried by said shaft, a second shaft for t e other roll, said second shaft having fixedly associated therewith a driven gear in mesh with the first-mentioned -driving gear, a driving gear fixedly associated with the second shaft, and a driven gear carried lixedly upon the first shaft and in mesh with the driving gear upon the second shaft.

14. In combination with strip stock feeding mechanism, a pair of stock feeding rolls, a rotatable shaft wheel carried by said shaft whereby it may be manually rotated, a driven member and a driving gear rigidly connected to each other said carrier being pair of stock feeding rolls.

for one of said rolls, a hand I and rotatably carried by one end of said sha-ft, a clutch associated with the driven member and adapted to drive said member when the clutch is moved in one direction .and to move freely over said memberl in the opposite direction, the clutch and member being normally disconnected, a second shaft for the/other roll, said second shaft having fx'edly associated therewith a driven gear in mesh with the first-mentioned driving gear and of less size than said drivinggear,

a driving gear fixedly assohiated with the opposite end of ,the second shaft, and a of/ April, 1921.

FREDERICK lLMTTELL. g 

